Help Cassie Fight Cancer!

Friends,

We get the great privilege of relieving just some of the CANCER financial burden from my best friend, Cassie Titus. I'm sure many of you know me or some story of me (Rachael). I have known Cassie for all of my adult life. We have been through college classes, big and small purchases, kids, long distance moves and still made it to the other side. We have that kind of friendship that is just indescribably strong no matter what has come our way. I wanted to update friends and family as Cassie has made her diagnosis public to the world.

A few months ago, Cassie noticed a growth in a not so friendly area around the anal sphincter. Originally, she thought it was a hemorrhoid but after some at home treatment and time decided to get it looked at it. Once seen by her gastrointestinal physician, it was determined that it was not in fact a hemorrhoid and needed to be biopsied. She had quite the recovery from the surgical biopsy which prevented her from a normal life and everyday bowel movements. Once the biopsy results came back it was determined to be perianal squamous cell carcinoma stage 2A. The biopsy surgery team was able to remove the tumor but because he couldn't get clean enough marins there is a 90% chance of reoccurrence. If the cancer were to reoccur the outcome would be a paralyzed sphincter and need for a colostomy bag the rest of her life.

Thankfully, she has a wonderful medical team who are coordinating amazing care and a treatment plan. Since she will be following the treatment plan recommended her physician said that 90% of people go on to live a fairly normal life. Her current treatment plan is the following: 25 days of daily radiation and 2 cycles of 24/7 intravenous chemotherapy through her chest port. Sadly, there are some pretty major drawbacks to this treatment plan primarily being that she will not be able to naturally get pregnant or carry a child in her uterus. The ability to have a child naturally is being taken away and she is extremely upset regarding this so if you believe in a higher power, please send prayers for her grieving heart because this experience has been traumatizing. Due to that prognosis post treatment, she is being proactive and seeing a fertility specialist. The fertility treat actually starts today, November 8th, where I will inject multiple rounds of IVF and assist her in the coming days so she will be able to do it at home alone. Hopefully, if the IVF is successful she will have her eggs harvested on November 19th. Once she has healed from the procedure, she will have her 1st round of chemotherapy and start the radiation.

Obviously, many of us know that medical treatment like this is financially devastating with high deductible plans, co payments, out of pockets expenses and maximum out of pocket. Unfortunately, the costs just continue to incur and she is in immediate need for financial help. Cassie is the kind of woman that plans the parties, meticulously picks out birthday gifts, knows all the amazing place to eat around town, loves animals and is a fierce woman who has passion in her life. I know she would never be able to ask for funds herself so I thought if we her friends and family can come together to relieve this financial burden from her so she can focus solely on her treatment. Any donation amount is greatly appreciated and will go towards the health of our friend, fertility treatment, multiple surgeries, medications, travel expenses, potential ambulance rides and hospital stays.